The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been hit with a massive setback in Rivers State after its 2023 governorship candidate, Dr. Tonte Ibraye, officially resigned his party membership over an escalating internal leadership crisis and deep legal uncertainty surrounding its candidate selection.
Ibraye announced his immediate departure in a resignation letter addressed to his ward chairman in Degema, citing prolonged internal wrangling, parallel factional leadership, and attempts by new entrants to illegally displace established party executives nationwide. He singled out the leadership dispute involving the faction linked to former Senate President David Mark, warning that exercising authority over party structures while court cases remain pending places all future electoral nominations on dangerously shaky ground.
The former governorship flagbearer bluntly asserted that any candidate emerging from such a contested process ahead of the 2027 general elections will be standing on “quicksand rather than solid ground”. Beyond the party’s internal structural collapse, Ibraye aimed a sharp critique at the broader opposition strategy, arguing that focusing solely on unseating President Bola Tinubu without offering Nigerians a clear, practical alternative plan for economic governance is a recipe for failure.
Declaring that he could no longer remain on what he considers a “sinking political ship,” Ibraye revealed he will immediately begin extensive consultations with key stakeholders and supporters across all 23 local government areas of Rivers State to determine his next political move. With the ADC attempting to position itself as a major third-force coalition, Ibraye’s high-profile exit exposes deep fault lines that could completely derail its 2027 ambitions.
Will Tonte Ibraye’s warning about “tickets on quicksand” trigger a massive wave of defections out of the ADC? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below!
